Offline Maps on Android

Plan on adventuring into an area with limited or no cell-phone network? You can still navigate your route with the OFFLINE MAPS feature where you pre-download the route and map tiles before heading out.

This option is only available for Android devices that have a microSD card installed. Not all Android devices will have this option. It will only appear if a microSD card is installed in the device and ready for use.

To change the location of the offline maps:

Go to Settings

Navigation

Offline Storage Location:. You’ll be prompted to choose one two location paths. Your exact path may differ from the example given here. The microSD card will usually have the indication of “card” in the path. For this example, I will choose /storage/extSdCard for my offline maps.

After you select the location, you’ll get a prompt to confirm the change. Select CONTINUE to transfer the files.

Depending on the number of offline routes you have, the time needed to transfer the files to the new location will vary but should only take a few minutes to transfer.

Once complete, all your current and future offline map files will reside on this new location. To switch back to the original location, select the first path from the list.

Keep the screen off as much as possible and listen for the audio cues. The screen is the number 1 use of battery time on your phone, keeping the screen off will extend battery run-time from a couple of hours to over 12+ hours on most devices. Some riders use headphones with only one ear-bud while others use bluetooth speakers that are waterproof so they can keep their phone tucked away.

Turn off un-needed wireless tech.Most devices will allow you to turn off each wireless technology separately. Turn off Wifi, Bluetooth, and turn off cellular data.

When you are ready to ride but know you will be in an area without cellular coverage, go to the home screen of your phone, Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data OFF. Tap the slider so it is no longer green.

Use a dynamo hub and USB charging system. Several manufacturers like SineWave Cycles, Schmidt, and SuperNova make USB chargers that connect to your dynamo hub. These work great to keep your phone topped off on the longest of rides but you will still need to keep your screen turned off as the current provided by these chargers is not quite enough to charge the battery and keep the screen on the entire time.

At this time the map type is restricted to RWGPS which is based on the Open Street Maps data.

What is the range of the offline map tiles?

The maps will download for the entire length of the route and about a screen’s width from the route. This will give you enough map to get back on track should you miss a turn or want to explore a bit.

Can I just download an entire state/country?

Technically yes you can but your phone will likely run out of space long before it is finished.

How do I delete an Offline Map?

When viewing your list of AVAILABLE OFFLINE maps, just tap the trashcan icon. Tapping the trash for Offline Maps, only deletes the downloaded content, it does NOT delete the original route.

How much data will this use?

The data usage in downloading a map will vary depending on the length and geographic coverage of a route. A typical 60 mile route will take about 20MB of space. With a broadband connection speed, the download should only take a couple of minutes, but make sure to wait until it says “Download Complete” before starting navigation or activating Airplane Mode.